Sierra Leone to Host Third UN Tourism Africa Gastronomy Forum in December 2026
Sierra Leone has confirmed its readiness to host the third edition of the UN Tourism Africa Gastronomy Forum, scheduled for 2 to 4 December 2026, using the 69th Meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa (CAF) in Seychelles as a platform to consolidate partnerships and demonstrate preparedness. Led by Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Nabeela Farida Tunis, the Sierra Leone delegation joined counterparts from across the continent to advance preparations for the event, which follows inaugural editions hosted in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in 2024 and Arusha, Tanzania in 2025. The upcoming forum will also be the first held under the leadership of newly appointed UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais, adding further institutional significance to the occasion.
Minister Tunis outlined Sierra Leone's vision for the forum as one that moves beyond culinary celebration to focus on the people at the heart of Africa's tourism economy, including chefs, farmers, youth entrepreneurs and local communities. "Gastronomy sits at the intersection of culture, tourism, agriculture and the creative economy," she said, noting that the forum will emphasise culinary education, women and youth participation, local value chain development and food culture as a destination branding tool. Broader CAF discussions in Seychelles, which examined tourism resilience, climate change and evolving traveller preferences, are expected to inform the final programme and partnerships for the December event.
Source: VoyagesAfriq
